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<p>[QUOTE="Tejas, post: 7654035, member: 84905"]Maximinus Thrax is one of those emperors, who, despite of a rather short reign of 3 years (235-238) left us with large quantities of high quality coins. Nevertheless, I have only four denari of Maximinus Thrax in my collection. The last one of which I bought just recently, to complete the series of different bust styles.</p><p><br /></p><p>Maximinus Thrax is particularly interesting to me. I am from northern Germany and Maximinus Thrax appears to have been the last emperor to make it to my home region, where he fought the fabled battle in the bog (<i>proelium in palude) </i>in which he is said to have personally distinguished himself. There is a lot of controversy regarding the significance and size of this battle. Some think that it was little more than a skirmish, with farmers who tried to defend their homes and families against pillaging Roman troops. Indeed, the whole campaign was a retaliation for a large scale Germanic attack on the Limes in the years 231 to 234, in which numerous Roman settlement and military camps were overrun.</p><p><br /></p><p>In any case, after harrowing the region, his troops returned south. The army that consistent of vexilliations of different legions including <i>legio IIII Flavia Felix, legio II Parthica, legio XXII Primigenia, legio XXX Ulpia Victrix, legio I Minerva and legio VIII Augusta)</i> must have been quite large. Nevertheless, in the meantime sufficient numbers of Germanic warriors had gathered to attempt an ambush in the hills of the Harzhorn. The ambush failed, the Romans made it back home and Maximinus Thrax was awarded the title of Germanicus Maximus.</p><p><br /></p><p>He may have been of barbarian stock himself. Later, but not particularly reliable sources, stated that his father was a Goth named Micca and his mother was an Alan named Ababa. Whatever the matter, he was an able soldier and apparently of great physical strength. He is often considered the first of the soldier emperors. He never visited Rome, which may explain the very different portrait styles on his coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>So here is my new acquisition. I was after this particular portrait for a very long time. My very rough estimate based on acsearch suggest that only about 1% of his denari show this type of facial features. Hence, even though his denari are mostly common, this portrait style is quite scarce.</p><p><br /></p><p>The reverse FIDES MILITVM is well suited for a military man like Maximinus Thrax. I am not sure, but I think the coin dates to the beginning of his reign, i.e. 235. In my view, artistically this is his best portrait.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1315852[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Next up is Maximiuns Thrax' most common portrait - more prominent chin and straight nose. The picture is bad, I find it difficult to photograph silver coins. However, the coin is in EF condition. The coin dates to 236, i.e. the year when his son Maximus was named caesar - PAX AVGVSTI</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1315853[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Finally, this is what I think is the last stage in the development of Maximinus Thrax' facial features - prominent bend nose and very prominent chin. The reverse celebrates his Germanic victory - VICT ORIA GERM. The coin is in lustrous EF. The battle in the bog was apparently fought in 235, but the Germanic campaign ended in 236 .I guess the date of this coin is 236 or 237.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1315855[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Tejas, post: 7654035, member: 84905"]Maximinus Thrax is one of those emperors, who, despite of a rather short reign of 3 years (235-238) left us with large quantities of high quality coins. Nevertheless, I have only four denari of Maximinus Thrax in my collection. The last one of which I bought just recently, to complete the series of different bust styles. Maximinus Thrax is particularly interesting to me. I am from northern Germany and Maximinus Thrax appears to have been the last emperor to make it to my home region, where he fought the fabled battle in the bog ([I]proelium in palude) [/I]in which he is said to have personally distinguished himself. There is a lot of controversy regarding the significance and size of this battle. Some think that it was little more than a skirmish, with farmers who tried to defend their homes and families against pillaging Roman troops. Indeed, the whole campaign was a retaliation for a large scale Germanic attack on the Limes in the years 231 to 234, in which numerous Roman settlement and military camps were overrun. In any case, after harrowing the region, his troops returned south. The army that consistent of vexilliations of different legions including [I]legio IIII Flavia Felix, legio II Parthica, legio XXII Primigenia, legio XXX Ulpia Victrix, legio I Minerva and legio VIII Augusta)[/I] must have been quite large. Nevertheless, in the meantime sufficient numbers of Germanic warriors had gathered to attempt an ambush in the hills of the Harzhorn. The ambush failed, the Romans made it back home and Maximinus Thrax was awarded the title of Germanicus Maximus. He may have been of barbarian stock himself. Later, but not particularly reliable sources, stated that his father was a Goth named Micca and his mother was an Alan named Ababa. Whatever the matter, he was an able soldier and apparently of great physical strength. He is often considered the first of the soldier emperors. He never visited Rome, which may explain the very different portrait styles on his coins. So here is my new acquisition. I was after this particular portrait for a very long time. My very rough estimate based on acsearch suggest that only about 1% of his denari show this type of facial features. Hence, even though his denari are mostly common, this portrait style is quite scarce. The reverse FIDES MILITVM is well suited for a military man like Maximinus Thrax. I am not sure, but I think the coin dates to the beginning of his reign, i.e. 235. In my view, artistically this is his best portrait. [ATTACH=full]1315852[/ATTACH] Next up is Maximiuns Thrax' most common portrait - more prominent chin and straight nose. The picture is bad, I find it difficult to photograph silver coins. However, the coin is in EF condition. The coin dates to 236, i.e. the year when his son Maximus was named caesar - PAX AVGVSTI [ATTACH=full]1315853[/ATTACH] Finally, this is what I think is the last stage in the development of Maximinus Thrax' facial features - prominent bend nose and very prominent chin. The reverse celebrates his Germanic victory - VICT ORIA GERM. The coin is in lustrous EF. The battle in the bog was apparently fought in 235, but the Germanic campaign ended in 236 .I guess the date of this coin is 236 or 237. [ATTACH=full]1315855[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]
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